The shark approached ominously from behind as Fanning sat on his board, before launching itself at him.

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"I was just sitting there and I felt something just get stuck in my leg rope, and I was kicking, trying to get it away," Fanning said.

The moment a huge shark launches at Australian surfer Mick Fanning, who escaped without injury after he "punched him in the back". Credit:World Surf League

Fanning appeared in shock and at a loss for words as he tried to describe the attack.

"I was just about to start moving and then I felt something grab [and] get stuck in my leg rope. And I instantly just jumped away and it just kept coming at my board. I was just started kicking and screaming. Wow!

"I just saw fin, I didn't see the teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming."

Fanning, a three-time world champion, was competing against fellow Australian Julian Wilson in the world tour event final. The event was cancelled and the surfers will split the prize money.

Mick Fanning looks on from the safety of a jet-ski as the water safety team continues to look for the shark that attacked him during the final of the JBay Open.Credit:World Surf League/Kirstin Scholtz

Fanning and Wilson are locked in a world title battle, but the competition was the bottom of both surfers' priority lists following the incident.

"I'm happy to not even compete ever again. Seriously, to walk away from that, I'm just so stoked," Fanning said.

Mick Fanning of Australia (pictured blue) is hugged by Kelly Slater (US) after being attacked by a shark during the final of the JBay Open on Sunday.Credit:World Surf League/Kirstin Scholtz

Wilson, who paddled towards Fanning when he saw the attack, was also emotional afterwards, saying through tears that he felt as if he couldn't get to Fanning quickly enough.

"It came up and he was wrestling it, and I saw he got knocked off his board," Wilson said.

Mick Fanning holds his head in his hands in disbelief after being attacked by a shark during the final of the JBay Open while fellow finalist Julian Wilson (red) looks on.Credit:World Surf League/Kelly Cestari

I just saw fin, I didn't see the teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming.

Mick Fanning

"I was like, 'I've got a board, if I can get there I can stab it or whatever, I've got a weapon.' "

Commentators were shocked as they called the attack live on air, with one exclaiming "Holy shit! Excuse me."

They described the moment later as "dramatic" and "frightening", saying it was the first time they had seen a shark attack a competitor during an event.

Fanning described the shark as "big enough". It was seen half an hour after the attack, while there were unconfirmed reports that a second shark was involved.

The World Surf League announced shortly afterwards that the competition would not continue.

"We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today. Mick's composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic."

The safety of our athletes is a priority for the WSL and, after discussions with both finalists, we have decided to cancel the remainder of competition at the J-Bay Open."

WSL commissioner Kieren Perrow said he wasn't aware of any other professional surfing competitions in which a competitor had been attacked.

"It's something that I don't think we'll ever see again, hopefully, in this sport," Perrow said.

"We're just so happy to see [Fanning] still safe and alive. That could have been a really terrible outcome."

Commentators praised the quick response of event officials who raced to help Fanning.

Jeffreys Bay, or J-Bay as it is commonly known, is infamous for shark attacks.

Fanning is a triple world champion, having been crowned the top surfer in 2007, 2009 and 2013.

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Professional surfers expressed their shock and relief online following the incident.